Duchess of Cambridge is presented with a posy of flowers by a four-year-old girl

Kate was given the flowers by Nell Cork, whose brother, Finnbar, received care at the centre, run by East Anglia's Children's Hospices (Each), in the Norfolk village of Quidenham, before he died in August last year.

The Duchess, wearing emerald green, crouched down as she spoke to Nell before shaking the hand of her elder brother, Alfie, 13, and speaking to her parents, Claire and Tristan.

The family, from Hethersett, near Norwich, are among those who have been helped by the hospice charity.

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She was greeted by dozens of flag-waving schoolchildren as she arrived at the centre on Tuesday, smiling as she took time to speak to many of the youngsters in the crowd before meeting dignitaries.

Inside the centre she met children with life-threatening conditions and their families.

The hospice's family-centred approach includes specialist nursing care, symptom management support, well-being activities, therapy and counselling – all designed to meet the individual needs of the child or young person and their parents.

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The Duchess, wearing emerald green, crouched down as she spoke to Nell

New footage has emerged of the future Duchess of Cambridge, her sister Pippa and brother James at the family wedding. A nine year-old Kate Middleton at Uncle Gary Goldsmith's wedding to Miranda Foote in 1991.

Opened in 1991, the hospice has outgrown its site and a new purpose-built facility called The Nook is planned for Norfolk, to provide more families with the same facilities as those offered by Each hospices for Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk.

Kate helped to launch The Nook Appeal in 2014, and was being updated on the progress of efforts to raise £10 million for the project by staff, supporters and families whom she was meeting at the hospice.